Page 67 of The Reluctant Wife

Panic wells up. I force myself to draw a few deep breaths, try to force myself to calm down.

“You, okay?” Ryot asks in a low voice.

I manage a nod.

“You sure?”

I take another few deep breaths. Then, when I feel more in control, I meet his gaze. “Yes.”

He studies my face and the expression on his gentles. “Whatever it is, we’ll get through this. I promise.”

I stare.When did the two of us become we?Not going to lie, it feels amazing to have Ryot in my corner. If only, I could keep him in my life forever.Wishful thinking, but hey, a girl can hope, right?

I’m conscious of the two older men watching us, but it doesn’t stop me from holding Ryot’s gaze. There’s lingering anger, but it’s mixed with something indecipherable. Something I can only classify as longing? And something more…calculating. Like he’s weighing options and has come to a decision. It makes me wonder what he’s thinking. Before I can ask, there’s a knock on the door.

Tyler opens it, exchanges words with someone, then accepts something from the newcomer. It looks like a piece of paper in a transparent bag.

I know then, it’s another anonymous note. My pulse begins to race. Sweat beads my palms.

“It’s from the same source who sent the last note, I assume?” I’m proud when my voice doesn’t quiver.

Tyler reads it, his jaw firms. He walks over to Ryot and passes it to him. The look on Ryot’s face has the hair on my arms rising. His features turn to granite. His left eyelid twitches. Anger pours off of him. Whatever he’s read in the note isn’t good. And the fact that he’s pissed off on my behalf is reassuring and hot. And turns me on. My stomach flutters. That familiar warmth encroaches in the space between my legs. I’m careful not to squeeze my thighs together; not when we have an audience. He nods at Tyler, who turns to me.

"One of the guards chased away a man trying to break in.”

My heart rate kicks up. "Oh." I swallow. "Was he… Do you think he’s my?—"

"We don’t know if it’s the same person who wrote the note and left it in your hotel room, or if it’s tied to the shooting, or if it’s someone else who tried to break through the security here." Tyler’s tone is gentle. "They did, however, find this note, which we assume the intruder dropped before he escaped.”

I hold out my hand. "May I see it?"

33

Ryot

"I’m going to hold you hostage and torture you…BITCH. I’m going to make sure you regret the day you were born."

Those are the words in the letter. And I didn’t want her to be exposed to them. But I will not deny her agency in her own safety. I will not patronize her. I know from experience, it’s best to be open with the principal in matters such as this. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to protect her from the venom in the words of that note.

I hand the note to her. She reads it and pales. I take the note back from her, then lead her to the couch and guide her to sit.

I accept the glass of water Tyler poured for her, exchanging it for the note, and hand it to her before sitting beside her. Tyler brings the note to the king.

Once she’s drained the glass, I take it from her and place it on the coffee table. “Better?” Not caring that my grandfather andher father are watching us with avid curiosity, I take her hand between both of mine and rub her much colder palm.

She turns to me. I’m pleased to see that, while she’s still pale, her gaze is clear.She’s a fighter, my woman.I can’t stop myself from thinking of her in those terms. Not when every part of me is coiled with anger and ready to go to battle for her. Not when I want to track down the person who sent her the note and tear them limb from limb.

“The tone of the note; it feels personal.” Her expression clouds. “Or is that my imagination?”

I exchange a look with Tyler, then lower my gaze to her. “It does feel vindictive. But I’d rather not jump to any conclusions until my team has analyzed it further. We've also been running additional checks on everyone in your inner circle. That now includes Gavin.”

She pales further, then nods. “You’re right to do that, of course.” Her voice slips on the last word, so I know the note has shaken her more than she’s letting on.

I glance at Tyler, and without having to say anything, I'm pleased when he nods. "I’m heading out to confer with the team and find out what we can about this intruder." He slips out the door.

“We’ll track down whoever is behind this. I promise you that.”

She twines her fingers between mine.

---